Photo by:
The fifth annual DU Drag Queen Fashion Show brought out the feminine side in some of this school’s male students. They shimmied, they shook and they danced to such classics as Abba’s “Dancing Queen.”
The show, hosted and produced by professional drag queen Casondra K, is an annual fundraiser to raise money for local charities. This year, the proceeds went to SafeHouse Denver, a battered women’s shelter. Students did not have to pay for the show, but they could buy $1 raffle tickets if they wanted to contribute to the charity.
Emceeing the show was another professional drag queen, Danielle Roberts. She introduced the performers and made quite a few remarks at their expense. She also freely flattered herself.
“I’m so hot I might melt the stage,” she said at one point.
There were eight DU students performing in all: Matt Lira, Will Ford, Jake Bakker, Chris Dirgo, Seth Pfaltzgraff, Zack Poppel, Dan Hurder, Jared Casner and James Haug. Most performed on their own, but some performed in duos. Will Ford and Jake Bakker performed together, under the identities of Pearl Necklace and Sasha Cox, to the Hot Chocolate song “You Sexy Thing,” wearing red and black dresses.
Another duo was Zack Poppel and Dan Hurder, AKA, Jayme Love and Melanie Moon. Poppel and Hurder performed a lively dance to Elton John’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” wearing little black skirts and pink and blue stretchy shirts.
Every contestant performed to a piece of music. In some cases, they prepared a dance routine. James Haug, performing in a purple dress as Bambi St. James, even had backup dancers for his routine to Gloria Gainer’s “I Will Survive.” Another student performer, Jared Casner, was so energetic that he ended up losing a “breast” at one point. Danielle Roberts, the emcee, referred to such problems as “drag droppings.”
Possibly the most outrageous outfit worn by one of the DU students was that worn by Chris Dirgo. He performed to “Lady Marmalade” from Moulin Rouge in an outfit that matched the song perfectly; a red bustier, red boa, black garter belt and red high heels.
At the end of the show, the winners were announced. The first prize for Best Drag Queen went to Chris Dirgo. The runner up for best Drag Queen went to two students, Zack Poppel and Dan Hurder.
Along with the student performances, there were also performances by professional drag queens from the Denver area. Nicole Sommers performed Cher’s “Turn Back Time,” while dancing through the audience in black thigh-high boots and a leather leotard.
The next professional performance was by Hope. Hope performed as Reba McEntire, lip-syncing to “Little Rock” and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” in a black dress suit with sparkling sleeves.
Nina Montaldo performed as Diana Ross, wearing an almost blindingly shiny gold dress. Casondra K, the host of the DU Drag Queen Show performed next, as Wynona Judd. She lip-synced to “Girls With Guitars,” wearing a black dress with white ruffles.
Hope returned to the stage as Trisha Yearwood, and lip-synced to “Perfect Love,” wearing leather pants, a black shirt and a sparkly coat. Nicole Sommers also returned to the stage, performing as Celine Dion, lip-syncing to “Nobody’s Supposed to be Here.” Her outfit consisted of orange frills and large shoulder pads.
Nina Montaldo and Casondra K returned near the end of the show to perform their final numbers, including Jordan Hill’s “Remember Me This Way.”
